Scratch post with renewable fabric cover



I July 14, 1959 M. GOLDSON SCRATCH POST WITHRENEWMSLE FABRIC COVER Filed Sept. 21, 1956 INVENTOR.

United States SCRATCH POST WITH RENEWABLE FABRIC COVER This invention relates to an improved scratch post for cats and other household pets, and one of its objects is to provide a scratch post with a base on which a pile fabric is mounted, with means for detaching a used fabric covering and replacing the post with a fresh fabric covering. Said fabric covering consisting of a pre-constructed sleeve of outer facing material of fabric canvas, carpeting, remnants or the like, and an inner cushioning material of kapok, cotton wadding, carpeting, foam rubber, or similar material to provide the necessary traction and support. The sleeve is sewn, stapled, formed, or otherwise bound along its marginal edges to form a pre-constructed soc which slips on scratch post support with a tight fit.

A further object of the invention is the construction of a scratch post, comprising a board or base over which the pile sleeve is stretched, and a member or backing which effectively clamps the fabric in place, and which permits of the removal of a used pile fabric covering and the mounting of a fresh pile fabric sleeve.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a scratch post for pet animals, with a member having a surface over which the pile fabric is stretched and a member which is clamped thereto and which will maintain the fabric stretched.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a scratch post of conical construction, with a conical fabric covering, and a base for supporting the conical post which can be clamped to the post so that the fabric covering is clamped tightly over the post, and may be removed and replaced by unthreading a single clamping nut.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain new and useful constructions and combinations, described in the specification of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the means for clamping the pile fabric.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view, taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows with a portion broken away to show cutout 10a.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through a conical post construction.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view thereof, taken on line 55 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the practical embodiment of my invention, designates a facing board, mounted parallel and in apposition to a similar coupling board 11, said boards serving to clamp the service facing fabric 12, for service use over the facing board 10.

This unit comprises the face board 10 and the backing or clamping board 11. These boards are made approximately equal in size and finished with rounded corners.

Over the faceboard 10 the pile facing fabric 12 is stretched, and the marginal edge portions of this pliable fabric are shaped around the side and end edges of the atent "ice face board and then placed between the rear side of the face board and the inner side of the backing or clamping board 11. A strip of emery, sandpaper, or similar gritty material may be sewn, stapled or otherwise fastened to side margins of facing fabric. This provides a better gripping surface for animal to scratch and hold upon when it stands on its rear legs when post is mounted on upright or wall beam, and also provides a surface for animal to scratch upon, sharpen, clean and break his claws upon.

To secure the marginal edges of the pile fabric against unravelling, the face board 10 is formed with a wide groove 13, located inwardly of the outer edges of the board, and wide enough to receive the pile fabric edges of service facing fabric 12. To force this pile fabric into this receiving groove, the clamping board 11 is formed with a narrow groove 14, which is parallel to the holding groove 13, and in this narrow groove the metal or plastic clamping ring 15 is snugly fitted, so that a portion of the same will project into the groove 13 and exert pressure on the infolded pile fabric disposed in said groove 13. Reference numeral 10a refers to a cutout or pocket on the surface of facing board 10. This pocket is for catnip or other suitable material attractive to a cat which will draw him to the use of the device.

The two boards 10 and 11 are then secured to each other by means of the wood screws 16, which are extended through holes 16a formed in th clamping board and then threaded into the face board, so as to force the clamping ring into pressure engagement with the fabric edges of service facing material 12.

A hanger bar 17 is also clamped between the boards at one end of the scratch post, and another hanger bar 18 is clamped between the boards at the opposite end thereof, and for this purpose each hanger bar is provided with an external eye 19, and an internal eye 19a.

In this form of the invention no edge of the pile fabric is exposed to the action of the pet animals claws, and by supporting the scratch post on a wall or other support the device may be made available for free use by the home pet animal.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I show a modified form of the invention, wherein a base 20 is provided, which is shown to be of circular form, but which may be of any shape. This base is formed with a conical socket 21, which receives the conical lower end of the post 22, which is also of conical construction. This conical post is constructed with a longitudinal groove 23 which receives the stitched marginal edges of the fabric sleeve 24,

which is patterned to snugly engage the conical post, so

that it will have to tightly fit therewith. This fabric sleeve is also pre-constructed as is the case with the facing board shown in Figures 1-3. The fabric sleeve is pre-constructed to fit like a sock and consists of an outer facing fabric and inner layer of cushioning material as lierebefore described, with marginal edges sewn, stapled, or fastened.

The lower end of this fabric sleeve fits into the conical socket 21 and the upper end fits against the short bevelled end 25 of the post 22. A metal or other cap 26 fits over the bevelled end of the post and serves as an upper clamping jaw to maintain pressure on the fabric sleeve and on the conical post.

Clamping is accomplished by means of the central bolt 27, which extends centrally through the cap 26 through the conical post and through the base, and is engaged by the nut 28, threaded on the lower end of the bolt. This nut is housed by the wall of the bottom socket 29.

By tightening the nut the conical base of the post will be forced into pressure engagement with the lower end of the fabric sleeve 24 to clamp the same against the base socket 21, while at the same time the upper end of the fabric sleeve will be clamped against the upper end of the conical post, thus holding this fabric sleeve tight on the conical post.

The fabric sleeve is constructed of pile fabric, which may be a remnant of carpet or similar material canvas, material or the like and an underlayer of kapok cotton 'Wadding, fibre, padding, or similar cushioning material, pre-constructed to form a tight fit and fastened along the marginal edges, said combination of outer facing fabric and cushioning layer below providing the necessary resiliency and pull backward. The top surface of the base 30 may be coated with a paint or lacquer and dusted with abrasive material, like fine sand or grit, so that the animal may trim its claws on the abrasive surface thus provided. The top surface of base may also contain a piece of sandpaper, emery, gritty material or the like, fastened or glued on said top surface of base. This provides a surface upon which the animal may sharpen, clean, and break his claws upon, thus avoiding damage to household furniture and effects.

In this form of the invention by using a wing nut to clamp the central coupling rod, any woman or child or other person may remove the used fabric sleeve and mount a fresh replacement on the post.

in this form of the invention the pet animal has access to all sides of the scratch post, which may be secured to the floor or to a wall or upright, by screws extended through the holes 29a of the base 2%).

It is understood that various changes in the details of construction, their combination and arrangement, maybe carried out, within the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims hereof.

Having described my invention l claim as new and patentable:

1. A scratch post for domestic pets and animals having a renewable, replaceable, material sleeve.

2. A scratch post for domestic pets and animals having a renewable, replaceable material sleeve, said material sleeve consisting of an outer facing material and an inner layer of cushioning material disposed immediately below.

3. A scratch post for domestic pets and animals having a renewable, replaceable material sleeve, said material sleeve consisting of an outer facing material and an inner layer of cushioning material disposed immediately below, the outer facing material and inner cushioning material layer having their terminal marginal edges sewn, fastened or otherwise bonded to form a made-tofit, pre-constructed fabric sleeve fitting on said scratch post with a snug, glove-like fit.

4. A scratch post for domestic pets and animals having a reneweable, replaceable material sleeve, said material sleeve consisting of an outer facing material and an inner layer of cushioning material disposed immediately below, the outer facing material and inner cushioning material layer having their terminal, marginal edges sewn, fastened or otherwise bonded to form a pre-constructed, made-to-fit material sleeve fitting on said scratch post with a snug, glove-like fit, said sleeve capable of ready replacement by a fresh sleeve when one has become worn through use, said material sleeve preconstructed to form a glove-like fit on scratch post support, provision being made for the ready interchange of said material sleeves with provision being made for a gritty, abrasive or emery-like material to be incorporated on base of standard or support Whereon the animal may exercise, clean, sharpen and break his claws, thus avoiding damage to household furniture and efiects, and means whereby said fabric sleeve may be moved, turned or adjusted to expose an unused, fresh area or surface.

5. A scratch post for domestic pets and animals having a renewable, replaceable material sleeve, said material sleeve consisitng of an outer facing material and an inner layer of cushioning material the outer, terminal, marginal edges of which are sewn, fastened or otherwise bonded, to form a glove-like pre-constructed fit on scratch post support, provision being made for the ready replacement of said material sleeves and means whereby said material sleeve can be adjusted, reversed, turned and operated to expose a fresh surface, side or area of service material without recourse to mechanical means; with provision for a gritty, abrasive, or emerylike material, to be incorporated on base or support of scratch post proper; provision being made for mounting and attachment of scratch post indoors or outdoors, on flooring, wall, upright, panelling, moulding, wall, fixture or device in a perpendicular, horizontal or various positions.

6. A scratch post for domestic pets and animals having a renewable, replaceable, material sleeve; said material sleeve comprising an outer facing material and an inner layer of cushioning material disposed immediately below, the outer facing material and inner cushioning layer having their terminal, marginal edges sewn, fastened or otherwise bonded to form a made-to-fit, preconstructed fabric sleeve, said sleeve fitting on said scratch post with a snug, glove-like fit; with provision being made for a gritty, abrasive or emery-like material to be incorporated on base of standard or support whereon the animal may exercise, clean, sharpen and break his claws, thus avoiding damage to household furniture and effects.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 485,416 Lloyd Nov. 1, 1892 2,005,817 Yoder June 25, 1935 2,036,107 Thomas Mar. 31, 1936 2,220,727 Nordlund Nov. 5, 1940 

